Support to the Russian NGOs from the authorities

3 July President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (right) signed an Order about 1.245 billion rubles appropriation for the state support of nongovernmental organizations. Human rights activists welcome the initiative, but state that the effect depends on the composition of the commission, which willl decide which organizations that will get support (06-JULY-07).

Written by HRH Moscow/ Inna Komar
Sources: www.ng.ru, www.rg.ru, www.hro.org, www.demos-center.ru

President`s order
According to the Order “About providing in 2007 a state support for nongovernmental organizations, taking part in civil society institutions development” it`s provided to appropriate 1. 245 billion rubles in 2007 for carrying out a competition between nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), registered in the Russian Federation. NGOs, which projects turn out to be more social significant, will get the money. Some more 4.216 million rubles would be appropriated to NGOs directly.

Special Competive Commissions
The Head of President’s Administration Deputy Mikhail Ostrovskiy stressed that grants distribution mechanism would be open and clear for the society to the limit. And it would be controlled by civil sphere at the head of six NGOs. They will establish special Competitive Commissions. The Commissions on competitive base should determine which NGOs will get the money from the State. The Administration representative reported that hereafter the government intends to increase NGOs state support. By his words, in 2008 it`s expected to appropriate 1.5 billion rubles, and in 2009 – up to 2 billion.

Comments from human rights activists          
Liubov Vinogradova (right), Russian Research Center for Human Rights (RRCHR) Board member, Human Rights House Network Advisory Team member:
– We can only solute the President`s decision, for recently NGOs financial situation is going down by leaps and bounds: many foreign foundations left the country (the Open Society Institute first of all), rise of prices for rent. However it`s of fundamental importance who will decide which organizations in particular get the support from the state, and also how and who would estimate mentioned above “social significant” projects` quality and assign grants. Last year the Public Chamber carried out the NGOs projects competition and the RRCHR presented a project called “Development of resource center for human rights NGOs”. In spite of the project`s high social significance and our organization`s reputation, the RRCHR wasn`t in the list of grant-recipients. First of all grants got the organizations, which heads were the Public Chamber members. So to say, we decide who among us we must reward.

Liudmila Alekseeva (right), Moscow Helsinki Group Chairman:
– The fact that the State appropriates more funds for NGOs gladdens us. It´s quite another matter what conditions will be for the funds appropriation. This year we`re going to participate in the competition for grants and we hope that new conditions will let us win.